September and October are usually the best months to have your garden landscaped when the project includes construction and planting. The strongest summer heat has normally passed, while the soil still retains warmth that can support new root growth. Autumn is not the only suitable period for landscaping, but it often provides the best balance
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Stone walls can define a terrace, frame a flight of steps, retain a difficult change in level or create privacy around a pool and entertaining area. The best examples often do several of these jobs at once while still feeling appropriate to the house and wider garden. When we introduce stonework into a design, we
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You can make a garden feel more private by identifying exactly where it is overlooked and positioning planting or structures where they will have the greatest effect. This is often more successful than automatically increasing the height of every boundary. It is rarely the entire site that feels exposed. More often, it is a dining
Shade works best when it is planned around how the garden will be used. For many of our clients, this means thinking carefully about pool terraces, outdoor kitchens, dining areas, open lawns and south-facing seating before the main layout is finalised. The aim is not to cover an exposed area. It is to place shade
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A large sloping garden can be one of the strongest features of a home, especially when it offers long views, mature planting or a natural connection to the surrounding landscape. The challenge is making it feel as good to use as it looks from the house. The most successful sloping gardens are not usually flattened
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Yes, an outdoor kitchen can be worth it in the UK if it is planned around real use, shelter, lighting and the wider garden layout. After the UK reached its hottest June day on record in 2026, outdoor living feels less like a luxury and more like a practical part of how we use our
Indoor-outdoor living ideas for a more connected home and garden Many clients come to us wanting a garden that feels more closely connected to the house. This often follows a renovation, extension or new set of glazed doors. In other cases, the house already opens onto the garden, but the terrace, steps, planting or seating
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Many clients begin a garden redesign with ideas they have saved from Instagram, Pinterest, RHS Chelsea or gardens they have seen elsewhere. These references are really useful, because they show what someone is naturally drawn to. The important part is working out how those ideas could suit your own home. A garden that looks beautiful
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In most cases, garden landscaping does not require planning permission. However, some of the most desirable features in a garden design, including swimming pools, retaining walls, garden buildings and significant level changes, can introduce planning considerations. Understanding planning permission for garden landscaping at the beginning of a project helps avoid redesigns, delays and unexpected costs
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Five trends stood out to us in particular because they balance aesthetics, practicality and longevity: Naturalistic planting Integrated water features Climate-resilience Restorative wellness spaces Timeless materials This year’s show felt particularly significant because many of the most successful gardens moved beyond decorative planting and focused on creating landscapes that are beautiful, resilient and enjoyable to
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 trends influencing garden design Read More »
